Publishers Weekly
03/25/2024
Cashore (Seasparrow) examines themes of grief informed by the 2020 presidential election and the Covid-19 pandemic via a speculative narrative in this intimate read. High school graduate Wilhelmina Hart was raised by her aunts Margaret, Frankie, and Esther. Following Aunt Frankie’s death, Wilhelmina begins seeing bizarre visions that all seem to know her name and prophesize events before they occur. She soon realizes that she’s not the only one—her attractive friend James Fang, whose family owns a doughnut shop, is experiencing otherworldly events, too. As the 2020 presidential election draws near, Wilhelmina struggles to make sense of this new and strange magic and must come to terms with Aunt Frankie’s death if she hopes to find some peace amid tumultuous happenings. Via vulnerable and sensate third-person prose and chapters that move back and forth in time throughout the year, Cashore quilts together small, everyday moments that center family and healing. Though the punctuated nature of certain interactions can sometimes foster disconnection between the characters’ lives and relationships, distancing them from the reader, it all culminates in a nimbly braided slice-of-life tale. Wilhelmina reads as white; James is of Italian and Chinese descent. Ages 12–up. (June)
From the Publisher
"Cashore's command over language and her incredible mind for extraordinary ideas are reminiscent of Madeleine L'Engle. There Is a Door in This Darkness contains the wonder, and the ideas it holds are bigger than words.”—Courtney Summers, New York Times bestselling author of Sadie and I’m The Girl
“How do we get through hard and confusing times? There Is a Door in This Darkness shows us the way with charm, heart, and a sprinkle of magic. This story of family, friendship, and love is told with some very timely essentials: kindness, compassion, and empathy.”—Deb Caletti, National Book Award Finalist and Michael L. Printz Honoree
"Cashore’s work is alive to the wonder of this world—grounding you in it one aching, perfect page at a time. Wilhelmina is a mighty main character whose adventures leave an indelible glow. Also, this book has the best magical aunts ever written."—A. R. Capetta, Lambda-Literary-award-winning and bestselling author
"Cashore’s novel is rich with a quality of observation and multifarious detail that suits adolescent angst, loss, and the limited stimulation of pandemic 'bubbles.'... Although set in the recent past, this is a work of historical and magical realism with unsettling contemporary resonances."—Horn Book
"A nimbly braided slice-of-life tale."—PW
"An in-depth character study with wonder as a subtle but steady undertone."—Booklist
JUNE 2024 - AudioFile
Kristin Cashore, known for creating fantastical worlds, takes listeners into a very real 2020. Jorjeana Marie makes it even more authentic by depicting the many emotions of young Wilhelmina Hart, as well those of minor characters. Marie's portrayals anchor listeners as the story moves back and forth in time between Wilhelmina's childhood with three vividly described aunts and her present-day woes: the pandemic, election fears, and the shifting friendships of teens. Cashore's slow-paced writing style reflects the painful sluggishness of the pandemic time period and its atmosphere of grief. Marie explores Wilhelmina's relationship with her beloved Aunt Frankie, honoring the author's precise prose. In an upbeat author's note, Cashore compares her own experience to Wilhelmina's, leaving listeners room to explore the characters and story anew. S.W. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine
